5 Street-Racing Cars

So you feel the need for speed. Do you day dream of pulling up to a red light and blowing the car next to you off the line? You’ve watched all three The Fast and Furious movies and still couldn’t get enough. Do you have nitrous fever? Then read on and get ready to lay some rubber down.

If you are like us you used to spend a lot of time talking about fast cars — and girls of course. But lately, it feels like all that gets talked about are fuel-efficient cars. I think it’s about time to revive your hidden desire to drop the hammer and leave the world in a dust cloud. If you feel that desire somewhere deep down then you are in luck, because we have a list of cars to make your dreams come true.

1. Honda S2000 Roadster

Ponies: 237 horsepower

Starting at $34,050, the S2000 is one of the more expensive cars on the list, but it’s also one of the fastest cars on the showroom floor. With an in-line 4 cylinder engine capable of churning out 237 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and producing 162 lb-ft of torque at 6,800 rpm, the S2000 balances power with light weight — coming in at only 2,855 pounds. In other words, this car will throw your head back, just give it some gas and enjoy.

The Honda S2000 also has a unique style that will get you noticed if you aren’t doing 99 mph on a quarter-mile track. This car allows you to drop the top after the race and its smooth lines give it the feel of a true sports car without needing after-market modifications. If you’re looking to drive off the lot and go racing, the S2000 will certainly do the trick.

2. Mitsubishi Eclipse GT

Ponies: 263 horsepower

The Eclipse GT has been around the tuner world for a long time, and it had a major role in 2 Fast 2 Furious. The demand for better performance parts and more aerodynamic kits for the Eclipse has increased through time, and now you have tons of customizing choices. Not that you necessarily need to. The Eclipse GT rolls off the show room floor with 263 horsepower from the 3.8 liter V6 and 260 lb-ft of torque. With stock parts you will be able to run a quarter mile in under 15 seconds, but should you decide that you want to move a little faster, you can easily take the car down to the 10-second range.

The Eclipse also has a style all its own. Its head-on stance screams, “Get out of the way or become roadkill.” One look at the profile and you can see the long hours the engineers put into the aerodynamics of this car. All and all, this is a great car for beginners who want to run with the best of them without much money or effort. Plus you can still use it for the daily commute.

If you want to impress on the track, use a car that's not sold in the U.S. …